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Dr. Minoru Shirota (代田稔 April 23, 1899 - March
10, 1982) was the inventor of Yakult, the yogurt-like probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus
casei strain shirota. In 1930, Dr. Minoru Shirota,
working in a microbiology lab at Kyoto Imperial University's School
of Medicine, became the first in the world to succeed in culturing
a strain of lactic acid bacteria beneficial to human health. This
bacterium was named Lactobacillus casei strain
shirota after Shirota.

Inspired by the writings of Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov, Shirota
developed a stronger strain of lactic acid bacteria which might
work to destroy the harmful bacteria living in the intestines, and
therefore improve and maintain the health of human beings. The
result of his efforts was the successful culturing of
Lactobacillus casei strain shirota.

Shirota then began working together with supporters to make a
drink incorporating the strain Shirota. This led to the development
of Yakult, a fermented milk
drink or probiotic,
which was introduced to the market in 1935.